YORK Cricket Club crashed to a heavy eight-wicket defeat in their Yorkshire ECB Premier League encounter against Doncaster.

York's skipper Marcus Wood described his side's display as an abysmal performance which followed a disappointing defeat at Hull on April 29.

The result leaves York, runners-up last season, in mid-table and needing to improve ahead of their next league game, at home to Rotherham on Saturday at Clifton Park.

Put in to bat, York seemed to be progressing well with 27 off ten overs when the two Dans, Broadbent and Wilson, fell in consecutive deliveries. Nick Kay went soon after to Pakistani paceman Kasif Raza who had three early scalps.

Steve Piercy stood firm for 90 minutes but no other batter could emulate his adhesive qualities. A few blows from Colin Palmer relieved the pain but York eventually expired for only 90 runs in 28 overs as former Yorkshire colt Andrew Parkin-Coates picked up four tail-end victims

Doncaster looked to be coasting to a whitewash after ten overs when Wood gave Kay a bowl and he claimed two belated victims, one to a fine legside stumping by Nigel Durham, but none of it was compensation for a thorough and embarrassing trouncing.

Barnsley are the early pacesetters in the league after completing a three-wicket win over Sheffield Collegiate.

Australian Graeme Harper took 6-47 as Collegiate made only 164 and Barnsley knocked off the runs with 12 overs to spare.

Updated: 08:58 Monday, May 08, 2006